SD Senate Panel Kills Bill On Juvenile 'Sexting'

A bill to prohibit juvenile "sexting" - taking or sending a lewd photo of a minor - has failed in a South Dakota Senate committee.

The bill's sponsor, Republican Sen. Mike Vehle of Mitchell, asked the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday to kill the bill because a key group representing state's attorneys had problems with it.

Vehle's proposal would have allowed courts to send minors who commit sexting to teen court, remedial educational programs or community service. It would have prohibited any minor guilty of sexting from being declared a sex offender.

But Vehle said Tuesday that it didn't make sense to give state's attorneys a tool they didn't want. Vehle says he'll work on a new bill for next year's legislative session.